As Supreme Court
Removes Wagering Ban,
Addabbo Urges NY to Move
‘Cautiously Forward’ in
Developing Gambling Plan
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of legalizing sports betting.
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (inset), the ranking member of the Senate Racing,
Gaming and Wagering Committee, called it a “major victory.”

See Story
on Page 12
Photos Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Jeff Kubina; Forum Files

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 18 • Number 20 MAY 17, 2018 | 1

New York Attorney General Candidates Emerge as
Special Prosecutor Initiates Schneiderman Probe
By Michael V. Cusenza
The political body of humiliated former New York Attorney
General Eric Schneiderman was
barely cold when current and
former pols from all areas—and
eras—of the Empire State began
tossing their names in the hopper
to replace him.
At one point this week 17 candidates, including Acting NY AG
Barbara Underwood, were listed
as vying for the job. On Wednesday, Public Advocate Tish James
formally kicked off her campaign
for Schneiderman’s old post.
Some are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Legislature
to back off and keep Underwood
as interim AG until November,
when the electorate can decide
who they’d like to see in the office
for the next four years.
“The people—not the party
bosses or the politicians in Albany—should pick the next
State Attorney General,” said
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (ROzone Park). “Let the acting AG
finish out the term and allow the
voters to make the decision in November.”
The once vaunted Democrat
swiftly resigned last Monday after
The New Yorker published another scathing #MeToo movement
exposé titled “Four Women Accuse New York’s Attorney General
of Physical Abuse.” In the story,
four women with whom Schneiderman “has had romantic relationships or encounters” accuse
him of “having subjected them to
nonconsensual physical violence.”
“In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly
contest, have been made against
me. While these allegations are
unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent
me from leading the office’s work
at this critical time,” the 63-yearold Schneiderman said in a statement.
The next day, Cuomo sent a
letter to Underwood and Nassau
County District Attorney Madeline Singas designating Singas
“Special Prosecutor and Special
Deputy Attorney General to investigate, and if warranted, prosecute, any and all matters concerning the public allegations
against Mr. Schneiderman.” In the
same missive, the governor called
Schneiderman’s “alleged improprieties…grossly disturbing and

Acting AG Barbara Underwood was sworn in last week by State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore as Underwood’s husband, Martin Halpern, held the Tanach.

Photos Courtesy of the NY Attorney General’s Office

Former AG Eric Schneiderman is now under criminal investigation.

must be fully investigated. The
brave women who chose to come
forward deserve swift and definitive justice in this matter.” Cuomo
later added, “In addition to investigating the specific allegations
outlined against Schneiderman in
the article, the Special Prosecutor
shall investigate facts in the article
suggesting that the Attorney General staff and office resources may
have been used to facilitate alleged abusive liaisons referenced

2 MAY 17, 2018 • Number20 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

in the article.”
Singas is the former head of
the Special Victims’ Bureau at
the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office and the founding
member of the Domestic Violence Bureau at the Queens DA’s
Office.
“When the governor called
and asked me to if I would take on
this matter, I told him that I would
do so and that I would begin an
investigation that is thorough,

that is fair, that is swift, and that
make sure that everyone in the
system is dealt with, with integrity and dignity,” Singas said. “We
will listen to anyone who comes
into the office to talk to us about
victimization. We will gather the
evidence that is necessary. We will
analyze that evidence. We will analyze the laws of New York State
to see when we can bring charges,
if we can bring charges. We will
treat this case the same way as
we do all cases. There will be no
stone left unturned. There will be
a thorough investigation. We will
treat this case the same whether
the alleged perpetrator is a worker
or a CEO or the former Attorney
General of the State of New York.”
Some political fireworks erupted even over Cuomo’s appointment of Singas as Special Prosecutor. In his message to Underwood
and Singas, Cuomo stated: “The
Special Prosecutor's jurisdiction will displace and supersede
the jurisdiction of the New York
County District Attorney's Office,
as there appears, at a minimum, an
appearance of a conflict of interest
with the Attorney General’s Office, which is currently investigating the relationship and actions

Photos Courtesy of the NY Attorney General’s Office

between DANY and the New York
Police Department and their handling of alleged illegal acts including sexual harassment and assault,
by producer Harvey Weinstein.
There can be no suggestion of any
possibility of the reality or appearance of any conflict or anything
less than a full, complete and unbiased investigation. The victims
deserve nothing less.”
Manhattan DA Cy Vance fired
off a letter to Cuomo objecting to
his characterization, denying any
hint of a conflict of interest, and
asserting his jurisdiction in the
Schneiderman probe. (Some incidents alleged in The New Yorker
piece took place in Manhattan.)
Cuomo counsel Alphonso David responded directly to Vance
with a missive of his own.
“It is frankly absurd to think
that you can investigate an office
that is simultaneously investigating your own conduct,” David
wrote. “I would refer you – although as a law enforcement official I expect you are already
aware – to the well accepted legal
and ethical standards compelling
law enforcement officials to avoid
even an appearance of impropriety or conflict of interest.”

Supreme Court Decision
Lifts Federal Ban on Sports Betting
By Michael V. Cusenza
The U.S. Supreme Court on
Monday lifted the federal ban on
sports betting, indicating that it
is up to individual states to decide if they want to allow wagering on athletic events.
In its 7-2 decision, the Court
struck down the Professional
and Amateur Sports Protection
Act of 1992, the federal measure
that made sports betting illegal
in all but four states: Nevada,
Delaware, Oregon, and Montana.
“The legalization of sports
gambling is a controversial subject,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote
in the opinion of the Court.
“Supporters argue that legalization will produce revenue for
the states and critically weaken
illegal sports betting operations,
which are often run by organized
crime. Opponents contend that
legalizing sports gambling will
hook the young on gambling,
encourage people of modest
means to squander their savings
and earnings, and corrupt professional and college sports. The
legalization of sports gambling
requires an important policy
choice, but the choice is not ours
to make. Congress can regulate
sports gambling directly, but if it
elects not to do so, each state is
free to act on its own. Our job is

Sports books, similar to this one at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, could be coming to New York.

to interpret the law Congress has
enacted and decide whether it
is consistent with the Constitution. PASPA is not.”
State Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr.
(D-Howard Beach) called the
decision a “major victory” for
all states that want to establish a
sports-betting market.
“As the ranking member of
the Senate Racing, Gaming and

Wagering Committee, I look
forward to working with my colleagues in all levels of government to credibly investigate how
we can potentially implement
sports betting here in New York
to improve the state’s tourism,
create jobs and increase revenues,” Addabbo added. “I look
forward to moving cautiously
forward, as our state entertains

Photo Courtesy of MGM Grand

the idea of sports betting, while
protecting the consumer and the
integrity of professional sports.”
Some elected officials aren’t
excited about the prospect of
widespread sports gambling
coming to the Empire State.
“I think what happens a lot
of times in the public sector is
people hear gambling and they
think revenue. And unfortu-

nately when I hear gambling, I
think addiction and I think a lot
of things that could be really bad
for families,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Tuesday on SiriusXM
Satellite Radio. “We are a society
with all sorts of addictions problems. This is something my wife,
Chirlane, has worked on a lot
too – mental health issues and
addiction issues. And let’s face it,
we’re not really addressing it in a
bigger way therefore if you legalize sports gambling and it’s that
much easier to get into something that can be in effect an
addiction and can have ruinous
economic impact on people and
families that worries me a lot.”
De Blasio said he fears that
with Monday’s decision a Pandora’s Box might be slowly opening.
“I would be very cautious because again what kind of track
record do we have in this country on dealing with addiction?
It’s not very good…just look at
advertising alone where a whole
lot of bad practices have a whole
lot of money behind them. And
if you have sports gambling now
available more broadly, there
will be a huge amount of money
behind that and it will get ever
more attractive to some people
who really should stay far away
from it. And that worries me a
lot.”

Brooklyn Duo Convicted of Kidnapping and
Torturing Ozone Park Man
By Michael V. Cusenza
Following a brief trial, a federal jury on
Monday morning convicted two Brooklyn
men of kidnapping and torturing an Ozone
Park man in an attempt to obtain drugs,
cash, and information, according to the
Eastern District U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Michael Crumble, 34, and Ramell
Markus, 35, were found guilty of kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping, and committing physical violence in furtherance of an
extortion. They were indicted in February.
According to court filings and evidence
presented at the six-day trial, Crumble,
Markus, and a third co-conspirator who later cooperated with the government abducted, assaulted, and extorted Daniel Nieves in
the early morning hours of Dec. 18, 2017. At
that time, Nieves left his Ozone Park home
to meet Markus in Markus’ car. As Nieves
got into the backseat, Crumble and the unidentified third man came out of the shadows and pushed him further into the car,
where a gun was pressed against his head.
Markus then pistol-whipped Nieves across

Michael Crumble (l.) and Ramell Markus

the head. While in the vehicle, Markus demanded that Nieves give the crew drugs
that they believed he had at his home.
The crooks then drove Nieves to a residence in Brooklyn and forced him inside
while demanding that he give up the cash

Photo Courtesy of DOJ

and drugs. They also demanded that Nieves
disclose the address of a location that the
perpetrators believed contained additional
money, as well as jewelry. To force Nieves
to comply, Markus broke a glass on his face,
and the co-conspirator repeatedly burned

both of Nieves’ arms with a hot iron. Nieves
eventually called his fiancée and told her
to gather his money and narcotics, which
Markus and Crumble retrieved from outside the Ozone Park residence.
Not satisfied with the drugs and cash,
the crew continued to keep Nieves captive,
and drove him to a hotel where they forced
him to stay while they waited for another
individual to call Nieves, who would supposedly provide the address that the trio
sought. After waiting a number of hours,
they forced Nieves back inside the car and
took him back to his borough home. Because Nieves refused to give up the address,
they forced him to provide a pound of marijuana as collateral.
In total, the defendants kidnapped
Nieves for approximately eight hours, according to federal authorities.
Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said Crumble and Markus “will now
be held responsible for their ruthless conduct.”
When sentenced, they face a maximum
of life imprisonment.

The new 116th Precinct’s stationhouse will be located on North Conduit Avenue in Rosedale.

By Michael V. Cusenza
Southeast Queens civic leaders and elected officials on Thursday celebrated the City
Council’s vote to approve a zoning amendment to secure the site of the stationhouse for
the new 116th Precinct.
“It’s a big day for Southeast Queens,” said
City Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton), chairman of the Public Safety Committee.
According to Richards, the amendment
establishes a C1-3 district within the existing R3-2 district, allowing the new precinct’s
stationhouse to be located at 242-20 North
Conduit Ave. in Rosedale. The 105th Precinct
Satellite currently operates out of that address.
Two years ago, the City secured a $70
million capital plan allocation to create a
new precinct in order to reduce 105th Precinct response times and expand coverage for

the growing neighborhoods of Southeast
Queens. The new command will be crafted
out of the southern portions of the 105, and
serve the communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville and Springfield Gardens.
According to the administration, the precinct will address an increase in the area’s
population and requests for law enforcement
services.
According to the NYPD, of the 77 precincts that cover the five boroughs, the 105
ranks fifth in both square mileage and population. It boasts more than 350 miles of roadway.
“People in this community worked for
a long, long time for this change—30 to
40 years, in fact. And it is a credit to them,”
Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “I always say that
real change comes from the grassroots. It is
a credit to them that they believed this could
and should happen and this day has come.”

THIS IS A MEETING YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!
***PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR CLIPPED AND COUNTED COUPONS FOR OUR
ACTIVE MILITARY
**Our meetings are attended by representatives from the NYPD, NYS Senate, NYS Assembly
and the NYC Council. Have your questions and concerns addressed, as wellas, receiving
updates on issues that were discussed at past meetings.

Refreshments will be served

If you have any questions, contact us via
e-mail—hbcivic2014@gmail.com
Visit our Facebook Page- Howard Beach-Lindenwod Civic
Follow us on Twitter- @hblcivic and visit our homepage-hblcivic.org

Save the Date
In Honor of Guy Losito
Sunday, June 3, 2018 The Ozone Howard Little League
Will be hosting a fund-raiser/walk to help with medical expenses for
Guy is a husband, father,
father-in-law, grandpa,
son, brother and friend who
has been a member of the
Ozone Park/Howard Beach
community for almost 50
years. He has been a part of
the ozone Howard Little
League for over 30 years.
On March 27th Guy was
diagnosed with Grade IV
GlioblastomaAstrocytoma.
This is a rare and very
aggressive form of brain
cancer.
Please join us in walking in
his honor to show love and
support for the Losito
family!

GUY LOSITO

Asking donations of
$20 per adult
$10 per child
12 and under
Children under
5 are free
Donations of any amount
are greatly appreciated
50/50 Raffles & T-shirts
available for purchase

By Michael V. Cusenza
A homeless man has been charged in the
heinous assault of a borough mom moments
after she dropped off her son at a school in
Kew Gardens Hills, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown announced on Thursday.
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Williams allegedly fled the city following
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“Her identity protected, New Yorkers
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Brown called the incident “frightening,”
“Despite [Williams’] efforts to escape horrific crime,” the DA added.
not only because of the viciousness of it, but justice, he was fortunately apprehended
If convicted, Williams faces up to 25
because it all happened in broad daylight.
and will now stand accountable for this years in prison.
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Legal Marijuana Could Score $336M for City: Stringer
By Forum Staff
City
Comptroller
Scott
Stringer this week essentially gave
(green) thumbs up to legalizing
marijuana in New York.
The Big Apple’s fiscal watchdog released a new report on
Tuesday that estimates the potential market for adult-use marijuana in the state at roughly $3.1
billion, including approximately
$1.1 billion in the five boroughs
alone.
When estimating the potential
tax revenues from marijuana sales
in New York, the comptroller’s office indicated that it considered
the Empire State’s existing tax regime for medical marijuana and
the established excise taxes on
items like cigarettes, beer, and liquor. By applying tax rates in line
with other states that legalized
adult-use marijuana sales (Washington, Colorado), New York
could reap as much $436 million
annually in new tax revenue from
legal marijuana sales, while NYC

could garner as much as $335 million, according to Stringer’s analysis.
These estimates are “conservative,” Stringer cautioned, in that
they ignore the potential impact
of some 970,000 workers who
work in the city but live outside
it, many of whom might purchase
marijuana in the city if sales are le-

galized. They also do not account
for the impact of foreign and domestic tourism on New York’s potential marijuana market.
The comptroller also pointed out that legalizing adult-use
marijuana could reduce costs for
public safety, help mitigate public
health problems related to the opioid crisis, and help drive broader

economic and social benefits that
will accrue after eliminating what
Stringer characterized as “a source
of harm that has afflicted communities of color for so long.”
Stringer seemed to buttress his
assertions by noting that the State
Legislature is currently considering a measure that would legalize
adult possession, while also cre-

ating a process to reclassify past
convictions related to marijuana
and to re-sentence individuals
currently incarcerated as a result
of a prior marijuana-related offense.
“This is not just about dollars—it’s about justice. Not only
is marijuana an untapped revenue
source for the City and the State,
but the prosecution of marijuanarelated crimes has had a devastating and disproportionate impact
on Black and Hispanic communities for far too long,” Stringer
added. “There is simply no reason for New York to be stuck in
the dark ages. This new analysis
shows just how much New York
City and State stand to benefit
by moving toward legalization.
Legalizing marijuana and reclassifying past convictions would be
critical steps towards turning the
page on decades of failed policies. This is an opportunity to do
what's right and build up the very
communities that criminalization
tore down.”

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 18 • Number 20 MAY 17, 2018 | 5

EDITORIAL
Sometimes, you’ve just got to
give credit where it’s due. Even if
the person who deserves said credit
frustrates and/or repulses you 24/7,
365—it’s the New York way.
This time that entity is borough
native (and President of the United
States) Donald Trump.
Yes. You read that correctly. The
Donald.
On Tuesday, according to the New
York Daily News, President Trump
“spontaneously” invited the family
of slain City Police Officer Miosotis
Familia to the dais as he delivered
remarks during an event in D.C. honoring law enforcement officers who
have made the ultimate sacrifice in
the line of duty.
The veteran City cop was murdered
in cold blood last July in the Bronx as
she sat in a marked department vehicle with her partner. Familia, 48, sustained a single gunshot wound to the
head when assailant Alexander Bonds,
34, fired through the mobile command
unit’s window shortly after midnight.
The mother of three was rushed to St.
Barnabas Hospital. She succumbed to
her injury around 3:30 a.m.
“She was ambushed by a man for
the simple reason that she was a member of the police department,” Trump
said on Tuesday. “That was the simple

A Mother's Way

222nd Street stationhouse featuring
the young lawman’s plaque alongside
those of three other members of the
105th Precinct who gave everything
for the World’s Borough. “Fidelis Ad
Mortem” is written above the individual memorials. Faithful Unto Death.
We’ll never forget Irene’s remarks
at that event. We’ll never forget Det.
Brian Moore.
“Anyone who has met my son
knows Brian’s smile – his great, big
smile,” she began, “and that smile mirrored his great, big heart. The capacity
he had to love life, to love to laugh, his
wonderful, winning personality will
never be destroyed by any bullet. Brian
has changed countless lives forever.
reason.”
elation of more abhorrent actions of
And because of this, we are able to
An NYPD Anti-Crime team enanother so-called man in a position of stand strong, all of us.”
countered Bonds running on Morris
power. Regardless, we can never forget
Irene ended her remarks with a
Avenue, approximately one block from our mothers and moms like Officer
quote from former President Ronald
the scene of the shooting. As they con- Familia.
Reagan.
fronted him, he drew the revolver he
Trump’s honoring of Familia and
“Wherever a beautiful soul has
used to end Familia’s life and destroy
her heroism made us think of Det.
been, there is a trail of beautiful
those of her children. The officers fired Brian Moore and his mom, Irene. On
memories.”
at him, striking and killing him.
May 2, 2015, Brian Moore was shot in
And so, belatedly this week, we
Familia’s family said they apprecithe face in Springfield Gardens after
ask you please to remember Miosotis
ated Trump’s gesture.
asking a suspect what he was fidgetFamilia, Irene Moore, and all of the
ing with in his waistband. His family
mothers of slain New York City police
We appreciate Miosotis Familia.
decided to take him off life support
officers. Their unimaginable pain may
Forever.
two days later.
be eclipsed only by their incomprehenThis Mother’s Day in New York was
Last year, Moore’s command
sible strength.
somewhat marred by the recent revdedicated a Memorial Wall inside the

www.workerslaw.com
Offices also located in Brooklyn, Suffolk, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange
Our staff is multilingual and can assist you no matter what language you speak

6 MAY 17, 2018 • Number20 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

118-21 Queens Blvd.
Suite 302
Forest Hills, NY 11375

NASSAU
25 Newbridge Road
Suite 203
Hicksville, NY 11801

By Forum Staff

New Vision Zero Safety Campaign
Aimed at Motorcyclists

The City last weekend initiated a new Vision Zero safety campaign aimed especially
at motorcyclists, whom data indicate are a
far higher crash risk on warmer spring weekends, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on
Friday.
According to the administration, motorcyclists are over–represented among traffic
fatalities in the five boroughs. Motorcycles
comprise only 2 percent of registered vehicles in the Big Apple, yet from 2010 to 2014,
motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of
traffic fatalities. In that same period, fatalities
among motorcyclists also skewed far younger (56 percent of deaths were under 35 years
old) and more male (98 percent of fatalities)
than any other mode of travel.
Additionally, City officials noted, the danger in the spring is most pronounced for motor
vehicle occupants and motorcyclists on warm
weather Saturdays and Sundays. On spring
weekends when high temperatures exceed 60
degrees, the rate for drivers and car occupants
killed or seriously injured (KSI) is 41 percent
higher than the winter weekend rate. For motorcyclists, the KSI danger on weekends rises
by a startling 88 percent.
“We need to keep our Vision Zero focus
on safety, particularly among motorcyclists,”
de Blasio said. “On warm weekends, we have
seen dangerous driving increase. So we are
telling both drivers and motorcyclists: When

This unregistered motorcycle was seized during the 102nd Precinct’s latest safety check.

and if the sun comes out this weekend, there
will still be absolutely no excuse for dangerous driving.”
The City Department of Transportation
has offered safety tips for motorcycling season:
• Ensure Proper Licensure and Registration: Motorcyclists must carry a Class M

Photo Courtesy of NYPD

or Class MJ State driver’s license. The most
common license, the Class D passenger vehicle license, is not sufficient to legally operate
a motorcycle. Riders also need to verify that
their bike is properly registered and insured.
Improper documentation can lead to seizure
of the motorcycle by the NYPD.
• Stay off the White Line: Passing be-

tween vehicles is risky, especially this time
of year when cars are not used to seeing motorcyclists out on the highways. Stay in the
middle of a travel lane, and be predictable
when passing.
• Pass on the Driver’s Side: You are much
more visible in the driver’s side mirror than
the passenger’s side.
• Get Practice before Riding the Open
Road: As motorcycling season begins, you
should not expect to be at 100 percent, and
should take your time getting on the open
road. Take your motorcycle to a parking lot
or out-of-the-way street to gradually get your
bike under you again. If possible, take a refresher class.
• Watch the Tires for Turns: The car in
front or you may turn unexpectedly. Look to
their front tires for sudden turns and keep a
safe distance.
“It is imperative that motorcyclists understand that the exposed nature of a motorcycle leaves him or her particularly vulnerable
to serious injury or death,” said NYPD Transportation Chief Thomas Chan. “The chances
of sustaining such injuries are substantially
increased when coupled with dangerous or
inattentive driving behavior, either by the
motorcyclist or another vehicle operator.”
Drivers should be mindful of motorcyclists, DOT added. Drivers should always
check their mirrors, look twice for motorcycles and deliberately use direction signals,
giving ample time before making turns.”

Owner of Woodside Employment Agency
Indicted for Immigration Scheme
By Forum Staff
The owner and managing executive of a Woodside medical
employment agency has been indicted for a visa fraud scheme that
brought Filipino citizens into the
country for financial profit, federal
officials announced on Monday.
Rena Beduya Avendula, 50, was
arrested and arraigned on Friday
on five counts of visa fraud and
conspiring to defraud the United
States, commit visa fraud, and illegally bring aliens into the United
States. She was released on $75,000
bond.
According to the indictment,
Avendula engaged in a scheme
from October 2009 to February
2015 to bring Filipino citizens into
the U.S. illegally by fraudulently
claiming to U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services that the foreign nationals would be employed
in “specialty occupations,” thereby
qualifying for H-1B visas. This
nonimmigrant visa classification
allows foreign nationals to enter
the country temporarily for the
specific purpose of working for

Photo Courtesy of Google

Avendula’s now-shuttered company, Professional Placement & Recruitment, Inc., was once located on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside.

the employer in a “specialty occupation.” A “specialty occupation”
requires certain specialized knowledge and a bachelor’s or higher level degree for entry into the occupation within the U.S. labor market.

General registered nurses typically
do not qualify as beneficiaries for
H-1B visas. A sponsoring U.S. employer must submit a USCIS Form
I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant
Worker, along with supporting

documentation, attesting that the
visa beneficiary will be employed
in a specialty occupation and paid
at least the local prevailing wage
paid to similarly qualified citizens
and legal permanent residents

working in the area. A limited number of H-1B visas are issued each
year, federal authorities noted.
As alleged in the indictment, Avendula used her company, Professional Placement & Recruitment,
Inc., to further the scheme. PPRI
specialized in providing nursing
care to elderly patients. Avendula, in
an effort to secure some of the limited number of H-1B visas that are
available each year, falsely stated that
foreign nurses would be working in
specialized nursing at prevailing
wage rates. In fact, they were going
to work as licensed practical nurses
or RNs at significantly lower rates of
pay, mostly at nursing homes and rehabilitation centers. The defendant
sponsored dozens of fraudulent applications and profited from the filing fees she collected from the nurses and from the healthcare facilities
that her company.
If convicted, Avendula faces
a maximum of 10 years in prison
for the visa fraud charges, and 10
years’ imprisonment for each foreign national she allegedly induced
to reside in the U.S. in connection
with the conspiracy.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 18 • Number 20 MAY 17, 2018 | 7

Area Schools are Big Winners in
DOT Vision Zero Competition
By Michael V. Cusenza
The City Department of Transportation recently revealed the
six borough public schools that
were winners of this year’s “We’re
Walking Here” competition:
• First Place, Video Category:
Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
High School (Astoria)
• Second Place, Video Category: PS 94 (Little Neck)
• Third Place, Video Category:
MS 210 (Ozone Park)
• First Place, Poster Category:
MS 226 (South Ozone Park)
• Second Place, Poster Category: Al-Ihsan Academy (South
Ozone Park)
• Third Place, Poster Category:
PS 16 (Corona)
In the annual contest, schools
compete to develop creative public-service announcements that
encourage walking and other active lifestyle choices. The competition builds on the City’s Vision
Zero efforts that aim to educate
New Yorkers about shared responsibility when it comes to
street safety, according to DOT.
“With more than 100 schools
participating, this year’s winning
entries have really connected to
the critical message of Vision
Zero,” said DOT Commissioner
Polly Trottenberg.
The contest, which is open to
all City public schools, launched
last October in conjunction with
International
Walk-to-School
Day. Participants download
grade-specific lesson plans developed by DOT’s Safety Education

Photos Courtesy of DOT

This entry from MS 226 in South Ozone Park earned First Place honors in the Poster category

and Outreach division. The first
place winners for this year’s competition receive a $1,000 grant,
the second place schools receive a
$500 prize, and third place schools
receive a $250. All prize money is

provided by the Safe Streets Fund,
a private-public partnership dedicated to promoting safer streets,
especially among students.
“Queens is so proud of our
students who produced such

compelling PSAs that prioritize
safety and healthy active lifestyle
choices for all New Yorkers,” said
Borough President Melinda Katz.
“Congratulations to the winning
entrants – all of whom happen

to be from Queens! – and all the
participants in this year’s citywide competition. Thank you to
the folks at DOT for hosting such
creative educational initiatives to
promote safety and Vision Zero.”

Photos Courtesy of DOT

Just last month, a dozen banners designed by PS 97 students were recently
installed along streets near the Woodhaven school as part of a DOT mural
project to raise traffic safety awareness, help prevent crashes, and reduce
Photos Courtesy of DOT
Photos Courtesy of DOT injuries around their school communities.”
The Al-Ihsan Academy in South Ozone Park took Second Place with this And the proud PS 16 student participants will bring their Third Place prize
poster.
back to Corona.

All animals on the truck at the event are ready to go home with you the same day;they are spayed or neutered,
vaccinated and micro-chipped.

By Forum Staff
City Councilmen Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone
Park) and Bob Holden (D-Glendale) are partnering with Animal Care Centers of NYC to
host a mobile pet adoption event on Saturday,
May 19, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Forest Park
Bandshell parking lot.
According to event organizers, all animals
– puppies, dogs, kittens, cats, and rabbits –
have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and
micro-chipped, and are ready to go to their
new home on Saturday.
“As someone who has always been passionate about animal welfare, I am excited
about this new partnership with ACC,”Ulrich
said. “National Pet Month (May) is a celebration of the benefits that pets bring to people's
lives—and vice versa. What better way to celebrate than to add a new member to your family and adopting an animal in need?”
ACC has pledged to have counselors and
volunteers will be on-site to guide prospective

pet owners through the adoption process. Individuals interested in adopting an animal will
be required to fill out a pre-adoption form and
provide references. To adopt an animal, you
must have a valid photo ID, be 18 years of age
or older, and bring current proof of address.
Adoption fees:
• Puppies (6 months & under) - $150
• Dogs (7 months & over) - $75
• Kittens (6 months & under) - $75
• Cats (7 months & over) - $50
• Rabbits: $50
“Each year, more than 25,000 animals
come to us from all over the city; many of these
wonderful boroughbreds are ready to make
Queens their home!” said ACC President
and CEO Risa Weinstock. “We’re grateful to
Council Members Ulrich and Holden for welcoming our Mobile Adoption Center to Forest
Park, and for all their support. It’s this kind of
partnership and community engagement that
will help further ACC’s mission to end animal
homelessness in New York City.”

‘King’ of Queens

The Pharmacist’s Corner
Presented by Frank Pantina, R.Ph

GET YOUR FINGER ON THE TRIGGER
Tracking your migraines... Part 2
Last week we began a discussion about
migraines, and told you what simple steps
you could take around the house to help
with this complex condition. Anyone who
suffers from migraines or cares for someone
that does, knows that these are not simply
headaches.
Migraines are a complex condition of
the nervous system that can markedly interfere with the time we spend with family and
friends, our work, education and everyday
life. In fact, over a 3-month tine span those
with chronic migraines cannot function for
an average of 63 days.
Experts say 1 in 7 Americans suffer from
this condition, but only 36% of those people
are ever properly diagnosed. And though
many people feel that either stress or hormones are the culprits bearing responsibility for the attacks, but that simply is not
true. Migraines are instead, often inherited
from the family gene pool like blue eyes and
brown hair. That’s right. They’re genetic.
One of the most surprising facts about
migraines is that most sufferers do not know
what the root cause of this debilitating condition really is. But let’s start you out with
one of the most basic of those truths––migraines are not headaches. Headaches are
symptoms of migraines. Along with symptoms there are triggers and understanding

Aspiring actors from St. Mary Gate of
Heaven Catholic Academy performed a
stage version of Disney’s “The Lion King”
on Friday as their school musical.
Queens Borough President Melinda

the difference between causes and triggers is
one of the keys to helping with getting the
right treatment.
It is estimated that more than 20% of
migraine sufferers will experience what is
called an “aura” before the actual headache
arrives. Auras are sensations that signal a migraine is on the way. They can produce sensations like tingling in the face and arms or
face, tunnel vision and difficulty in speaking.
Tracking what you eat and considering
other environmental factors like the weather
is crucial. Knowing what sets off your migraines and defining your personal threshold is essential in managing your condition.
We’re hoping that providing you with
a list of the 15 most common triggers will
give you an idea of just how varied these
factors are and help you to recognize what
is happening with your condition. Perfume,
alcohol, eye strain, food allergies, incorrect
prescription glasses, menstruation, weather,
stress, seasonal allergies, depression, sugar
and sugar alternatives, cigarette smoke, dieting , bright lights, and finally disturbed sleep.
Get out a pen and paper and track what
happens after one or more of these triggers induces an episode. Tracking is a great
method for you to get started on healing
your headaches .

Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato
(D-Howard Beach) joined acting Queens
County Supreme Court Judge Marcia
Hirsch on Friday in celebrating the 20th
anniversary of Queens Misdemeanor Treatment Court.
One of nine “drug courts” in the city,
QMTC “places non-violent, drug-addicted offenders into treatment in an effort to
break the cycle of drug abuse, addiction,
crime and jail.”
According to the Hon. Judy Harris
Kluger (Ret.), the former deputy chief
administrative judge for Drug Treatment
Court Operations & Planning, the basic
concept behind the drug-court initiative
involves an intervention by the court, in
cooperation with defense counsel, prosecution, treatment, education, and law

enforcement. Instead of jail or probation,
the courts help you enter and stay in a
drug or alcohol treatment program. The
plan includes regular court appearances
and supervision by the presiding judge,
according to QMTC.
“In return for a promise of a reduced
sentence, appropriate non-violent addicted
offenders are given the option of entering
voluntarily into court-supervised treatment. The rules and conditions of participation are clearly stated in a contract entered
into by the defendant, the defense attorney,
the district attorney, and the court,” Kluger
added.“The results have been overwhelmingly positive.”
The QMTC is a “special courtroom” located in the Queens Criminal Court building in Kew Gardens. According to the court,
most people will spend anywhere from one
to two years in the QMTC program.

Sheldon Silver Convicted of Corruption—Again
By Michael V. Cusenza
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…
Disgraced former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver on
Friday was convicted—again—of seven counts of fraud and
extortion in a Manhattan federal court.
“The justice system shows no one is above the law,” Gov.
Andrew Cuomo said in a brusque statement shortly after the
verdict was read.
Silver was originally found guilty in November 2015 and
sentenced to 12 years in prison (and ordered to pay a $1.75
million fine and forfeit $5.3 million) the following May.
However, in July 2017, an appeals court overturned the conviction due to improper jury instructions.
Silver’s precipitous drop from the apex of the Albany machine began in January 2015, when he was arrested following
a federal corruption probe charging one of the State Legislature’s “Three Men in a Room” with using his position to receive nearly $4 million in bribes and kickbacks from people
and businesses in exchange for his official acts, and obtaining
another $1 million through laundering the proceeds of his
crimes.
According to federal authorities, Silver, 74, was convicted
of using his substantial power – including his influence over
the real estate industry and his control over certain healthcare funding – to unlawfully enrich himself by soliciting and
obtaining client referrals worth millions of dollars from peo-

File Photo

Disgraced former Assembly Speaker Silver on Friday was found guilty of
extortion and honest services fraud.

ple and entities in exchange for official acts, and attempting
to disguise the money as legitimate outside income earned
from his work as a private lawyer.
In particular, Silver claimed on financial disclosure forms
required to be filed with the State, and in public statements,
that the millions of dollars he received in outside income

while also serving as Speaker came from Manhattan-based
law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C., where Silver professed
to work “representing individual clients” in “personal injury
actions.” These claims, prosecutors charged, were materially
false and misleading – and made to cover up unlawful payments Silver received solely due to his clout as an elected official and the Speaker.
“I commend the career prosecutors of our office’s Public
Corruption Unit, whose determination in securing this important conviction fittingly underscores the importance of
pursuing cases against corrupt politicians, no matter the difficulty,” said Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoff Berman. “One of
the most worthy endeavors of this office is combating public
corruption. We will continue to do so with the independence
and resolve the Southern District is known for and the citizens of New York so rightly deserve.”
Berman was not in charge when Silver was initially arrested, indicted, tried, and convicted.
“Today’s stiff sentence is a just and fitting end to Sheldon
Silver’s long career of corruption,” former Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in 2016 when Silver was hit with a
dozen years. “The show-me-the-money culture of Albany has
been perpetuated and promoted at the very top of the political food chain…the greedy art of secret self-reward was practiced with particular cleverness and cynicism by the Speaker
himself.”
Silver is currently out on bail. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 13.

Council Approves Fire and Emergency Safety Bills
By Forum Staff
The City Council recently approved a package of eight bills that
address fires and emergency safety.
According to Council Speaker
Corey Johnson, the city’s lawmaking body was prompted to
draft such legislation after a series
of Bronx fires in late December and
early January resulted in 15 deaths
and 29 injuries.
The first proposed law, sponsored by Johnson, would ensure
fire safety guides are distributed
in apartment buildings and fire
safety and prevention educational
materials, as well as relevant trainings, are provided to building staff.
Additionally, the City Fire Department would be required to submit
annual reports on such outreach
efforts.
Councilman Joe Borelli (RStaten Island) sponsored a bill that
would require that all doors in residential occupancies be self-closing
by July 31, 2021; Intro. 602-A also
creates a class C violation of the
Housing Maintenance Code for a
failure to keep and maintain selfclosing doors.
“This bill will save lives,” said
Borelli, chairman of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management. “I know that this package
of bills, including the education
and outreach components of my
colleagues’ legislation, will make
our city a safer place.”

Photo Courtesy of John McCarten/NY City Council

Councilman Joe Borelli, chairman of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management, sponsored one of the eight measures in the
package.

Introduction 603-A would
codify the FDNY’s existing hydrant inspection practice. Additionally, the City Department of
Environmental Protection would
be required to report on the occurrence and results of such inspections; including information on
the number of hydrants subject to
inspection, the number of inspections that occurred in the prior calendar year, the number of hydrants
found to be inoperable through in-

spection, the number of hydrants
found inoperable and classified as
priority hydrants, and the number
of priority hydrants not subsequently repaired after being found
inoperable.
The next measure, which was
sponsored by Councilmen Robert
Cornegy (D-Brooklyn) and Chaim
Deutsch (D-Brooklyn), would require that after Jan. 1, 2021, smoke
alarms in residential occupancies
that are installed within 20 feet

from a fixed cooking appliance
must comply with standards for reduction of nuisance alarms.
Introduction 606-A would require the FDNY, in consultation
with the Office of Emergency
Management and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities, to
develop a checklist to assist individuals with disabilities or limited
mobility in crafting individualized
emergency evacuation plans.
“After [Superstorm] Sandy, I

saw firsthand the trouble many
seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities experienced while having to evacuate their homes in an
emergency. It was clear that residents, landlords and the city could
be doing so much more to prepare
for the next storm or fire,” Councilman Donovan Richards (D-Laurelton), the measure’s co-sponsor,
noted.
The final three bills in the package were sponsored by Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx).
Introduction 608-A would require
the posting of notices within residential buildings regarding the importance of closing doors when escaping a fire to prevent the spread
of fire.
Introduction 609-A would require the FDNY, in consultation
with the City Department of Education, to develop and implement
a plan for educating children and
parents about common fire dangers and prevention measures.
Such plan will include outreach at
schools, public service announcements, and information on preventative measures to be taken by parents. Additionally, the FDNY will
be required to report annually on
such efforts.
And Introduction 610-A
would require that all landlords
provide stove knob covers to tenants in units where children under
the age of 6 reside to prevent the
children from using the stove.

THE FORUM NEWSGROUP • VOL. 18 • Number 20 MAY 17, 2018 | 11

Bills Aimed at Combating NY’s Opioid Epidemic Inching Closer to Cuomo’s Desk
By Forum Staff
The State Senate recently passed a package of bills that take
aim at New York’s opioid crisis, Sen. Joe Addabbo, Jr. (D-Howard Beach) said on Monday.
“The heroin and opioid abuse epidemic continues to spiral
across New York State and the nation, leading to needless deaths,
broken families, and an ever-growing burden on our medical
system,” Addabbo added. “It’s a battle we need to fight on any
number of fronts… We need to be both tough and smart.”
The nine pieces of legislation would:
• Significantly increase potential prison sentences for the
sale of a controlled substance to a child under 14 by a person
over the age of 18. The crime would be raised from a B felony
to the more serious A-II felony, Addabbo noted;
• Prohibit a healthcare practitioner from prescribing more than a seven-day supply of a drug containing an
opioid to a minor. It also requires the prescriber to assess
whether the patient has ever suffered, or is suffering, from a
substance-abuse disorder; to discuss the risks of addiction
and overdose, and to obtain written consent from the child’s
parent or guardian;
• Require hospital and emergency room physicians to notify a patient’s medication prescriber when the person is being
treated for a controlled-substance overdose, and to consult the

File Photo

Sen. Addabbo said “we need to be both tough and smart” in this war on
opioids.

State prescription drug monitoring program registry to determine any existing prescriptions issued for the patient;
• Criminalize the sale of Carfentanil, a dangerous synthetic opioid said to be 10-times more deadly than fentanyl.
Depending on the amount of the drug sale, offenders could
spend 10 to 20 years in prison for a first offense;

• Designate the synthetic drug alpha-PVP and all of its
components as a schedule 1 stimulant controlled substance,
making it illegal in New York. Also known as “Flakka,” the
drug is similar to “bath salts” and methamphetamine that
have been banned in New York in recent years;
• Create a presumption that a person possessing 50 or
more packages of heroin with an aggregate value of more than
$300 intends to sell it and will be subject to punishment under
applicable State laws governing drug sales;
• Increase penalties for the sale of drugs containing heroin;
• Combat the abuse and the growing black market sale of
prescription medication by further cracking down on those
who write fake prescriptions and on those who possess drugs
that were not legally prescribed to them; and
• Make it a Class B felony, punishable by up to nine years in
prison for a first offense, to illegally sell controlled substances
on the grounds of alcohol- and drug-treatment centers.
The package of bills has been sent to the Assembly for consideration. The Lower Chamber is expected to follow suit and
approve the measures. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s signature
would make them official Empire State laws.
“We need every weapon in our arsenal to fight back against
the horrible criminal and public health scourge of heroin and
opioid abuse,” Addabbo said. “Higher penalties and even more
stringent drug monitoring may be part of the overall solution.”

‘Extraordinary’ Rise in Spending on Homeless Services
but Results Lacking: Comptroller
By Michael V. Cusenza
Amid extraordinary increases
in City expenditures on programs to address a historically
large homeless population, a
new report by City Comptroller
Scott Stringer underscores the
lack of data available to measure
the effectiveness of said spending.
Released on Tuesday, Stringer’s analysis of Homeless Services provider agencies is part
of his Fiscal Year 2019 Agency
Watch List, which spotlights
City departments “that raise the
most budgetary concerns due to
rapidly increased spending and
insufficient measurable results.”
Stringer said that the analysis
found that while total spending
on homelessness across agencies is projected in FY 2018 to
increase by 149 percent from
FY 2014, including a more than
seven-fold increase in spending
on prevention and permanent
housing (to more than $700 million), the population in shelter
has barely changed—remaining
“stubbornly high.” Meanwhile,
comprehensive publicly available information allowing for
evaluation of the success of the
City’s programs is lacking.
In February 2017, Mayor Bill
de Blasio unveiled “Turning the

File Photo

“While the rise in City spending on homeless services has been extraordinary, we are concerned with the lack of results,” said Comptroller
Stringer.

Tide on Homelessness, Neighborhood by Neighborhood,” the
City’s 114-page vision to address
the crisis by, in part, eliminating the use of cluster apartment
units by the end of 2021 and
commercial hotel facilities by
the end of 2023.
However, as Stringer’s analysis indicates, the City recently
entered into $369 million in annual contracts with Children’s
Community Services Inc. to

12 MAY 17, 2018 • Number20 VOL. 17 • THE FORUM NEWSGROUP

shelter homeless New Yorkers
in commercial hotel rooms over
the next three years. In total, the
City is anticipating nearly $1.1
billion in expenditures for commercial hotel rooms alone.
Additionally, a number of key
indicators regarding the City’s
spending on homeless programs
are not currently publicly reported, the report shows, resulting in a gap between the administration’s stated goals and the

measures available to evaluate
their success. These indicators
include:
• Applications for shelter
by household type, quarterly;
• Reasons for seeking
shelter, quarterly;
• Number of cluster sites
in use and population housed,
monthly;
• Commercial hotel use,
utilization rates and expenditures, monthly;

• Subsidized
housing
placements by type of subsidy,
monthly
Stringer said that without
this data, it’s “nearly impossible”
to measure the City’s progress in
closing cluster sites/hotel shelters, or to monitor the effectiveness of spending.
“Resolving our city’s unprecedented homelessness crisis requires urgency and funding, no
question – but while the rise in
City spending on homeless services has been extraordinary, we
are concerned with the lack of
results for our most vulnerable
New Yorkers,” the comptroller
said. “Reducing our homeless
population has to be our top priority—and that goal won’t come
easy or cheap. But with a cooling economy and uncertainty
from Washington, we need to
be smarter with our dollars today—and we need to see results.
Data-driven policy matters, but
without the publicly available
data needed to measure results,
it’s impossible to evaluate what
is working and what is not. We
want to see results for the New
Yorkers most in need—that’s
why we’re shining a spotlight on
when and how the City is spending on services to support the
homeless.”

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